MN Hwy 100 - Minnesotas first highway

[ilikenintendo2005]

This is honestly my favorite highway in the Twin Cities to drive on! When it's not rush hour, it's such a relaxing and fun drive on it! :)

[TIKIMAN198]

Where did you get the old footage of 100?

[eluko79]

@TIKIMAN198 A tpt documentary called Lilac Way.

[burnet1999]

Parked in the left lane like a true Minnesotan. ;)

[bytor55110]

Did anyone notice the person walking along the right side of the Humboldt Ave. ramp about 4:50?

[ChrisK529]

@eluko79 OK, thanks, I'll go check it out now. Keep up the good work; I love all these "driving videos" that you and many others put on YouTube.

[Jean1juan]

@ChrisK529 what is the speed limit here

[ChrisK529]

@Jean1juan I don't know what the speed limit is (this wasn't my video), but I'm guessing it's between 55 and 65 miles per hour (that seems typical of most of these "urban freeways" in the United States).

[Vigormaster]

@Jean1juan - Part of it is 55 mph and part is 60 mph.

[ChrisK529]

Excellent video! By the way, what's the music?

[eluko79]

@ChrisK529 Thanks. It's "Set Me Free" by RenoakRhythm

[ChrisK529]

@eluko79 Thanks for the info. I did see on here that someone else asked previously and you answered them but I cannot seem to locate this song. I find others by RenoakRhythm, but not "Set Me Free" - can you point me in the right direction perhaps as to where I can find this song?

[eluko79]

@ChrisK529 I left a link to where you can download the song in the video description. Enjoy.

[ChrisK529]

@eluko79 Thanks, I appreciate it.....you're all right! Keep up the good work - I really enjoy watching these "driving videos", especially of places I've never been to.

[bytor55110]

Looked like there was a nasty storm building that afternoon... the further you drove towards 694, the weather must have turned more sour!

[eluko79]

@bytor55110 It did indeed. After I got home, the high winds knocked out the power and a few of the trees in my neighborhood.

[roadguy88]

5. Rusted bridge girders cannot just be repainted, they must be sand blasted and patched with steel plating in badly corroded spots.

6. Either way the medians would be rebuilt with permanent 6' tall concrete barrier

7. The federal govt dictates lighting. Currently incandescent bulbs are used, but in response to energy efficiency LED bulbs are currently being tested.

9. Which interchange are you referring to?

10. Signs are replaced on a 12 year cycle. They are usually salvaged in construction.

[b15sentra2k]

Wow that silver Dodge car jacked you bad. What pointless lane change and break check!!!

[Cyrus992]

Honestly I saw this clip 50+ times because of its cool song.

[a442136g]

Hello, enjoyed this video very much. I was born in Robbinsdale and my parents lived in Golden Valley at the time. Later they moved to 36th Ave N. in Crystal just south of the Robbinsdale city limits. At the time highway 100 was known as the "belt line" because it was designed to circle the city. Also, there was no interchange at 36th Ave. N. This was during the 50s and early 60s. Anyway, thanks for posting, it brought back a lot of memories!

[mudfroggie]

Nice footage. Where did you find the historic footage at the beginning? Also, should've mentioned that the interchange at Hwy 55, built in 1942, was originally a cloverleaf (added AFTER the original Hwy 100 construction...present-day Hwy 55 ran along Rockford Rd at the time), then converted over into the present SPUI in 2002.

[eluko79]

@mudfroggie Thanks froggie. I got the footage from a tpt documentary called "Lilac Way". Its on the tpt archives website if you want to see it. Very cool.

[giorgiovigo]

Hi Luke, walking the streets of Minesota. Up.

[cleostreet]

Hey, another nice one there eluko. I especially like the way you add the signs in the lower-left corner. Cool that you didn't crash into the car with the "Penn State Forever" sticker. And I love the old '30s bridges too. Did you know that one of two remaining beehive ovens from the old roadside picnic areas was recently moved and preserved in St. Louis Park (e side of 100, s side of 7). The other is somewhere in Robbinsdale.

[Cyrus992]

I must say.. the song on this video is truly amazing!!

[kuldmunn]

Thats not right song name. I didn't find it anywhere.

[eluko79]

@kuldmunn Have you tried google? Just click the first link.

[kuldmunn]

what is the name of this song ?

[eluko79]

@kuldmunn Set Me Free by RenoakRhythm

[VampiroDeLaFrontera]

Gréát vídéó

❿ / ❿★★★★★★★★★★

[Dvoracekmara]

Hi, nice!!!

[GeoffJennyOliver]

...luv that intro Luke - looked like a few quick stops near the end!...

[AaronOfMpls]

Nicely done! The signs in the corner are a nice touch.

By the way, where did you find the old footage at the beginning (0:00 - 0:18)?

[eluko79]

@AaronOfMpls Thanks. I found a documentary about the highway called "Lilac Way". Its on the tpt archives site.

[AaronOfMpls]

@eluko79 Thanks! I saw that show when it came out.

[Bradhahn14]

Ah, I know this interstate highway very well. Of course, not as well as some of the older people (after all, I'm only 18), but still, I have traveled down this highway many, many, many times, because I grew up in the western Metro.

[techman224]

This is one of your best videos. Well done. I have a question, what edition of Sony Vegas do you use?

[eluko79]

@techman224 Thanks. I was using the 9.0 (64-bit)

[techman224]

@eluko79 I didn't mean version number, I talking about Vegas Movie Studio HD, HD Platinum, Platinum Production Suite, or Pro.

[eluko79]

@techman224 Oh. Pro I guess. Didnt know about the others.

[Bradhahn14]

@eluko79 I also use Sony Vegas Pro 9.0e for various projects. Looks like you worked it like a pro!

[TheSmooveZ]

Makes me miss MN. I can't wait to get back home. Excellent vid, again! Take care.

[WarOfTheKnights]

That looks really good with Sony Vegas Pro! I also have Sony Vegas. Also, where did you get the population sign pictures that appears on the lower left-hand side?

[eluko79]

@WarOfTheKnights I actually drew them up in windows paint with the roadgeek font installed.

[WarOfTheKnights]

@eluko79

Oh, I thought someone made it for you. That's actually nice! (If Minnesota uses Clearview Font)

[VaFreeways]

You know I gotta say that MN's roads overall look pretty decent considering the Winter you guys get up there.

[ShingleCreek]

You've outdone yourself again. Great video.

Other notable things in your video:

At 1:58 the junction of Hwys 100 & 7 was the site of the first cloverleaf interchange in America.

And at 4:15 you crossed Shingle Creek...haha

[JcBrooks651]

Nice Video, MN HWY 100 sure is a nice freeway especially when your by 394

[CAMINOANDALUZ]

Great vid!!. Very interesting images of the principle...As always, great job!!

[OnThatPowder]

Brook cntr & park arent ghetto!!! haha  crazy

[VaFreeways]

Excellent production, nice job!

[trakaistrollis]

Great video!!!

Superb quality!

[XCtrackRUNnner]

niiice video! thumbs up! the historical videos were great and it was cool seeing what they grew into :D

[Bryant5493]

Mad at that silver car at the end. Looked like they wanted to gt rear-ended.

Nice video. Like the route signage you used i the video, as well.

[FreewayAndrew]

Great start on Sony Vegas Pro and choice of music! CosmoPhotography makes highway-ish signs, too. Great job!

[roadguy88]

Definitely your best vid by far. With the old original video in the beginning and the full drive through you didnt miss a thing. Although everytime I drive it I am puzzled by why mndot didnt put a center pier in the median of 100 for the 494 bridge. Also good job getting the original bridges filmed before they are replaced in 2014.

[eluko79]

@roadguy88 Its going to be interesting to see what they replace them with. And yeah that 494 bridge does look odd without that center pier.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 They should instead restore and preserve the old bridges like the highway 110 freeway in Los Angeles.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1 Unlike Hwy 110, MN100 has 4 original bridges and they are a major choke point barely allowing 3 lanes under them. All of the entrance or exit ramps are way too short. Plus, these bridges would cost more to rehab over replacing them. Building new bridges would serve traffic better, accommodate peds and bikes, and reduce future maintenance costs. To many pros over cons in terms of replacing them.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 Yes but they're historic bridges dating from the 1930's and should be preserved and to help with clearence, highway 100 could be lowered through the section.

[eluko79]

@thomasrosiefan1 It won't be so bad. They're aware of the historical significance so the new ones will actually be updated replicas of the originals.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@eluko79 really

[thomasrosiefan1]

@eluko79 but it wont be the same. the cloverleaf ramps should be brought back with larger loops and less weaving and the old section of 100 should become a historic highway landmark. besides these bridges were built as part of FDR's New Deal.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 Well I know the highway 7 bridge shouldn't have room for bikes & peds because of being a more "higher speed" route. Though, one of the rail bridges has a trail on it and the Minnetonka bridge could just have the deck widened to fit bike & ped lanes and the bridges can recieve the following things in the restorations:

1. Widen Minnetonka bridge deck

2. Replace steel fencing on bridges

3. Repair & restore concrete

4. Lower highway 100

5. Repaint bridges

6. Rebuild medians

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1

1. Widening the bridge is possible, but to do so ~5 ft of the existing bridge on each end must be sawed off to tie the new and existing steel together to allow for forces from the loading to be carried properly between the two bridges.

2. The steel fencing whether a rehab or replacement could copy the old style.

3. The concrete and steel rebar is shot, years of salt and weathering has corroded the steel and concrete to the point where it would be easier to start from scratch.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1

4. To meet standard clearance would mean lowering 100 by 2 feet. Since a 3% is the max grade, ~1000' feet past each bridge on both ends would need to lowered. Having low points means storm sewer must be added. Now soil must be excavated (including removing well compacted gravel base) , new gravel base added, compacted w/ a compactor(there will still be settling afterward) , and new pav't added (due to gravel settling, this pav't won't last as it would on settled gravel)

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 7. Install eco friendly replicas of the original lighting

8. Build larger cloverleafs at highway 7

9. Redo northbound on-ramp and off ramp

10. Replace signs

11. Install new trees

This would be an extensive refurbishment that SHOULD be done because these bridges are the last survivors of the original highway, they were part of FDR's new deal, they're some of the oldest interchanges in Minnesota. This old section of highway 100 should be preserved as a historic road.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1

8. With the existing bridge widths only allow for 3 lanes in each direction. To place a cloverleaf at 7 one of these lanes would revert to a merge lane meaning there would be 2 thru lanes. This would create major congestion which is not an acceptable option just because the original design must be kept for historical purposes. Also by bringing back the cloverleaf you create an unnecessarily safety hazard at the top and bottom of the bridge in the merge zone.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1

The added costs of preserving the existing bridges compared to replacing them means adding millions to the cost; millions that the DOT could spend elsewhere on other bridges or pavt replacement. Plus if the original bridges are kept there will be no room for left and right shoulders on 100. With new bridges, the added width means the right shoulders could be used by buses. Lastly, new bridges would greatly reduce the need for future maintenance costs.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 What if they were extensively restored to reduce maintenance costs? This old section of highway 100 should be preserved as a historic parkway with a lower road to reduce hight restriction and highway 169 needs upgrades which means taller trucks would be redirected there and some trucks that are shorter that can't get through now could get through with the road being lowered through the old section.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1 To extensively restore bridges so much concrete would have to be jack-hammered out and steel rebar replaced that it would be a nightmare. Rehabing the bridges would never get them back to perfect condition as all the bad concrete is not removable and the old steel girders are rusting (Painting and sandblasting will not stop this). Just like the lift bridge, every 15 years a rehab project would be needed, compared to a new bridge where the first rehab would be need in 25 years.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1 Also by keeping the old bridges the width restrictions are still there on 100. The loop ramp from HWY 7 to 100NB would still have a merge issue. That currently has the dreaded yield sign which is a safety issue. By replacing the bridges, auxiliary lanes can be added. This allows for the elimination of that yield sign and improved traffic flow between exits. This would improve safety by reducing crashes. In this case, safety is more important than historic preservation.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 To help with the WB 7 to NB 100 ramp would be improved with an aux lane that would be added and would be the third lane with a temporary departure from NB 100. The cloverleaf would return with better ramps. The bridges would recieve an EXTENSIVE restoration to bring down maintance costs, highway 100 would get lowered reduce height restrictions. Though, large trucks would still get redirected to highway 169 at highway 62 and interstate 394.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1

First, we both are directionally challenged, the loop ramp is WB 7 to SB 100. Second, all of the points you have brought up have been addressed already. If the original bridges are kept there, the 3rd lane must be a through lane and cannot be used as a merge (aux) lane for a cloverleaf.  Extensive restoration cannot match new replacement bridges. Trucks cannot be diverted to 169, the design standards are lower than 100 since it was originally a county road.

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 Well, if MnDot can do Alternative 4 with some improvements to the plan, lower highway 100 through the last surviving stretch by around 3 to 4 feet, widen the bridges & replace part of the bridge touchdowns with a more deck, we can do for highway 7 a 6 ramp interchange with connector ramps to CSAH 5. Under the highway 7 would be needed an aux lane on both directions of highway 100 & under CSAH 5 an aux on SB 100. The project has been pushed back to 2016.

[roadguy88]

@thomasrosiefan1 Lastly, in your proposal to lower 100 and improve 169, that means spending probably 10+ million more than it would just cost to replace the bridges. That means postponing a project elsewhere to get that extra money. Also improving 169 would be no small project, it would take 100's of millions to bring it up to standards since it was designed as a county road (Hennepin Co 18). Lastly by parkway do you mean a 45mph speed limit w/ no trucks like the "practice freeway" on 35E?

[thomasrosiefan1]

@roadguy88 No, I mean normal speed limit as a preserved highway. With highway 100 being lowered through the old section, trucks that are a bit bigger could get through the old bridges which the CSAH 5 deck could be widened to add bike and pedestrian paths.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

you cant touch the sony vegas crew .. hey man i enjoyed your new video very much ..

[eluko79]

@ScrewdUPClickV2 Thanks man and thanks for the help. I should have done this a lot sooner.

[FreewayTitan]

Thats a nice, urban freeway. 5* for old Midwest roads!

[mudfroggie]

@FreewayTitan Much better than it used to be (except near Minnetonka Blvd). But try driving it at rush hour sometime...

[CosmoPhotography]

Great job! I really enjoyed this! I liked your highway signs too.. ;-)

[eluko79]

@CosmoPhotography Thanks a lot. I like the signs in your vids too. Funnest part of making the vid is drawing them up.

[2004JETTA]

That is so cool, so much history for one road